Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-04-22
THE NEW VENEZUELAN MINISTER.
His Appointment Grew Out Of the Ter
ritOrial Dispute with England.
From the New York Tribune.

From the New York Tribune.
The newly-appointed minister for venezuela at
washington, j. A. Olavarria, arrived here from
South America q few days ago. He was accompa-
MED by son about ten years OF age and a secre-
tary. He is resident OF Caracas, the capital OF
venezuela, where he is director OF the Bank OF
Venezuela There is only one bank In venezuela
1t receives the customs duties and pays out money
for the government on proper orders from ITS
finance minister. Senior Olavarria has held no
public position until the present one. He was In
this country twenty-three years ago on pleas
ure trip. He is man OF perhaps nfty years OF
age, OF the Castflian type, OF medium-size, ath-
letic and swarthy, with black eyes iron-gray hair
ana muStache and animated expression. He
speaks French, Spanish and German fiuently, but
finds the English language difficult
The occasion for Senior Olavarna's acceptance OF
the position OF minister 20 this country is an old
time dispute between England and Venezuela. In
1905. says the minister, the English government
acquired a portion 6I Dutch Guiana by ceasion
from the Dutch, extending on the west 10 the
River Esequibo, an Important stream whose
mouth Is not far from the 0rinoco. The English
government gradually took possession OF territory
on both sides OF this river at the mouth and also
OF territory at its source which Venezuela claims
was not included In the original cession. Later
they sent out an engineer named Sir Robert Schom-
berg TO run line between the two countries His
line encroaches far upon Venezuela and takes in
valuable gold mines and the important Island OF
Barima at the mouth OF the OrinocO River. In
1850 an effort was made 10 negotiate the boundary
and both countries agreed TO Keep out OF the dis
puteU tefT1tOry. Wltnln q year, Senior OlaVarr1a
says. the English government has taken almost
complete possession OF IL. The Venezuelan gov
eminent desires an arbitration OF the matter and
will ask the friendly Offices OF the United States In
the arbitration. In speaking OF the matter Senior
Oavarria said:
"If England can keep Barima at the mouth OF the
Ornoco, she can go further and take the whole
country In time. She may even keep on up the
Orinoco and go into Brazil, as We have communi-
cation with the Amazon by the river Niger. There
are rich provinces OF Venezuela along the Orinoco,
and they are temptation TO any strong govern
nal power on the Western Continent. You are a
home market TO take up all your products, the
time will come In ten or fifteen years when you
viii produce more than you consume Then you
Will want this southern market. III England has
Ii, you cannot have II. think England Is inclined
to revenge herself for the loss OF position in North
America by Selling all she can in South America.
We want this boundary matter arbtrated, in any
event, and naturally turn 10 North America for
friendly sympathy in the matter"
slow about Venezuela and its affairS?"
"The country is at peace, under the wise ruler
ship OF Gen. GtKman Blanco, who has been Illus
trious in war and peace. IL is developing rapidly
We have two lines OF railroad under construction
One from Porto Cabello TO Valencia, about firty-
five miles, Will be finished In November Another
from Caracas TO Valencia is In progress with 600
men at work on it. We have more telephones I'm
Caracas, In proportion to Inhabitants, than any
city on the globe. We have electric lights and
other modern inventions. The gold mines are ex-
ceedingly productive and growing more and
more valuable as they are developed.